Just How Bad is Shampoo?

By: Javayria Mudassar

Many of us have probably grown up using shampoo for a variety of reasons. The most obvious reason is that it keeps our hair clean, grease-free, and shiny. Every year, the number of companies that are branded as ‘sustainable’ cosmetics increase tremendously, whether that be for cruelty-free products or natural moisturizers. However, many fail to take in two extremely important factors: how it affects the environment after product use and the packaging it comes in.

Why are shampoos harmful to the body?
Traditional shampoos that are created using chemical formulas are extremely harmful to the hair and scalp. The harsh chemicals in the shampoo strip the hair down and remove natural oils that protect the hair from damage. Although the hair looks clean and feels silky temporarily, it is prone to breakage and irritation of the scalp. It is important to know that two ingredients that take the oil and wax off your hair, sulfates and ammonium, are actually detrimental to the environment and your health. Ammonium is known to cause cancer, hair loss, scalp rashes, and other health complications. 

How do they harm the environment?
Shampoo does not stay on your hair forever—it ends up going down the drain and entering water bodies. Sometimes, this can result in harmful substances that affect human drinking water, pollute rivers, and harm wildlife. The problem is in the makeup of the chemical formulas for shampoo. Sulphates, which are present in nearly every shampoo found in stores, are actually used as pesticides, which pose a threat to the biodiversity of lakes and rivers by killing larvae and aquatic insects. Chemicals such as sodium laureth sulfate can induce mutations in animals’ genetic makeup and can sometimes be fatal. 

What shampoo should I buy now?
Of course, we still need to keep our hair clean. However, there are plenty of more sustainable options available on the market that have minimal harm on both the environment and our bodies. Things to look for when purchasing shampoo or hair products in general include:

• Swapping out shampoo bottles for sustainable shampoo bars. They are fairly new to the market but definitely should not be overlooked. These bars are made up of natural oils such as coconut/rapeseed oil, shea butter, and essential oils for fragrance. They last around 40-60 weeks and are great for your hair’s health. They are also the most sustainable, since they arrive in paper packaging and there is no need to dispose of them. Any residual soap will travel down the drain, and even if it ends up in waterways, there is no harm since the ingredients are all natural. The one downside is that it takes time for the hair to get used to the difference in ingredients, but the environment and your body will thank you.
• Staying away from shampoos with an ingredients list that is incomprehensible. If you can’t read more than 5 ingredients, you quite plainly don’t need them on your hair. The extra ingredients are not needed for your hair to be clean but are only added as preservatives and fragrances. 

Most regular shampoos that we see in pharmacies or superstores are harmful to both yourself and the environment. Considering that the majority of the ingredients are non-degradable and have lasting impacts on living organisms, it is safe to say that finding a more suitable alternative will have a positive impact on the Earth and your hair!

Sources:
Green Matters
https://www.greenmatters.com/p/shampoo-effects-environment

Keeping Our Planet Alive (KOPA)
https://keepingourplanetalive.ca/blogs/blog/how-bad-is-shampoo-for-the-environment